4 Reasons to study Project Management

4 Reasons to Study Project Management

Project managers are always in demand: no matter what the industry, there will be a need for qualified professionals to plan and provision the work. Of course, that’s just the high-level view of project management, which can be a complex and rewarding career. If you’ve wondered whether becoming a project manager is right for you, this article can help.

What do project managers do?

The basic principles of project management include planning, organizing, securing, controlling, leading, and managing resources and tasks to achieve specific business goals. Project managers determine strategies to kick off the project, evaluate and understand the project requirements, analyze and gather the required professionals on board and monitor the progress of the work. include planning, organizing, securing, controlling, leading, and managing resources and tasks to achieve specific business goals. Project managers determine strategies to kick off the project, evaluate and understand the project requirements, analyze and gather the required professionals on board and monitor the progress of the work.

Why choose project management as a career?

Like many jobs, project managers will need a variety of skills in order to be successful. In addition to keen organizational skills, project management aspirants should also be effective problem solvers, have above average math skills, and be clear communicators. For those who enjoy varied responsibilities, project management may be a good match.

Some other reasons why to study project management include:

1. The demand for project managers is high. The Project Management Institute (PMI)® expects to see 22 million new project management job openings through 2027.
2. Project managers are needed in a wide variety of industries. Although quite common in the IT field, project-oriented work is also common in business services, oil and gas, finance and insurance, manufacturing, construction, and utility industries—all over the world.
3. Salaries for project managers are highly competitive.
4. There are plenty of opportunities for advancement. Highly experienced, specialized, certified project managers can expect to see double the entry-level salary—or more

Project managers with professional certifications are likely to demand higher salaries and increased opportunities for advancement. The most common project management certification is PMP™ . There are benefits to obtaining the certification; those who want to become project management experts may elect to obtain multiple certifications.

Kenya Institute of Project Management offers multiple Project Management training courses that can help aspiring project managers get the education they need—not only to pass certification exams, but also real-world knowledge useful for any project management career.

Olkaria 5 Geothermal Project

Olkaria V Geothermal Project

May 05, 2017

Kenyan utility KenGen recently said that it plans to kick off the 140-MW Olkaria V geothermal project before the end of this year.

The new project is part of a drilling program that KenGen is running to supply steam for more than 400 MW of capacity that is planned for development in the next two to four years, KenGen said in a Dec. 14 statement. KenGen has drilled 137 wells since 2007, and eight rigs are in operation at the Olkaria steam fields.

The company said that it also is planning to build the Olkaria VI plant at 140 MW by 2021. Geothermal sources currently account for one-third of Kenya’s installed capacity estimated at 2,150 MW, but they provide more than half of the energy generated due to its high energy yield and stability against weather variations.

KenGen plans to add at least 3,000 MW of energy capacity to the national grid by 2018, mostly from renewable sources, such as geothermal and wind.

In addition recently the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta broke ground for the construction of the Olkaria V power project which will produce 158 MW of electricity, strengthening his administration’s resolve to ensure Kenya has sufficient electricity.

The President at the same time commissioned 14 wellhead units producing a total of 75 MW of electricity. The ‘wellhead unit’ is a unique technology developed by Kenyan engineers to harness geothermal power, which has reduced the duration between the first drilling of a well and installation of a geothermal plant from five years to two years.

The commissioning of the power projects is set to see more Kenyan households access electricity. In the last four years that the Jubilee Government has been in office, electricity connections have risen to 5.9 million representing 63 per cent from 2.26 million which accounted for only 16 per cent of the country’s population with access to electricity.

“Once again, the path is clear: we expect that the peak load will grow to about 15,000 MW by 2030; that demand will be met by raising installed capacity gradually to 19,200 MW by 2030,” said the President

He said the expansion of geothermal power production will contribute to Kenya’s prosperity. “In commissioning these wells, and in breaking ground for the new project, we take a mighty step on the road to prosperity for this nation,” said the President.

Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua and Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya also spoke at the function.

Adapted from Renewable Energy World Editors and a report By PSCU

"Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities"- Mark Twain

Kenya and Tanzania Beyond 2015: Exploring domestic debates and envisioning development futures (BEYOND 2015)

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight internationally agreed upon development goals, are due to expire in 2015. There is currently a lively discussion on future development frameworks and agendas post-2015. Several actors, including the EU, have acknowledged the significant changes and new realities in economic and political systems since the MDGs were agreed upon in the early 2000s.

 

 In discussing a new development framework, the aim has been to include more actors, especially from developing countries, and correct the shortcomings of previous efforts. For many actors, a significant shortcoming of the MDGs has been the lack of attention on environmental issues and energy access. At the Rio+20 forum, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were promoted as a framework for bringing together the environment and development agendas. Several actors are currently considering whether the post-2015 agenda could entail a merging of the MDGs and the SDGs as a new, universal development framework.

The Beyond 2015 project looks at domestic debates on development frameworks in Kenya and Tanzania post-2015. 

Powering and Energizing Africa

The third edition of Power & Energy Africa is an imposing demonstration of its importance for the successful development of power and energy sector in Kenya. The expectations with the first show were not only fulfilled, but clearly surpassed.

Treasury Signs Sh52b Wind Power Project Deal

The National Treasury has signed a Sh52.1 billion Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for the 300 megawatt (MW) Turkana Wind Power Project, clearing the last hurdle for implementation of the mega project.

Ethiopia-link Road Set for Completion in 2015

Tarmacking of the main road linking Kenya with Ethiopia is expected to be completed by end of next year according to Marsabit governor Ukur Yattani. The 505km Isiolo-Marsabit-Moyale road is 60 per cent complete and work is progressing well.